Game Notes

The Mets held the White Sox to one hit over 10 innings last night. It was the second 10-inning one-hitter in team history. Terry Leach hurled a 10-inning one hitter on October 1, 1982 at Philadelphia in a game the Mets won, 1-0. Luis Aguayo had a fifth-inning triple in that game. The last 10-inning one-hitter in the majors was May 28, 2011 when the Twins won 1-0, holding Anaheim to one hit. Last night was the 37th regular season one-hitter in Mets history. Since 1962, only the Dodgers (42) have more one-hitters

Mike Baxter singled home Ike Davis with one out in the 10th inning to give the Mets a 1-0 win last night It was Baxter’s first career game-ending RBI and the Mets’ third walk-off win of the year and first since Jordany Valdespin’s pinch-hit grand slam on April 25 vs.Los Angeles. The Mets had six walk-off victories in 2012.

Jordany Valdespin is leading off tonight and is batting .300 (9-for-30) with two walks as the team’s leadoff hitter this season. Ruben Tejada, Collin Cowgill, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike Baxter, and Justin Turner have combined to hit .194 (18-for-93) with eight walks and 22 strikeouts out of the leadoff spot.

Matt Harvey wasn’t credited with a victory, since the Mets won the game in the bottom of the 10th inning. But he remains undefeated on the season (4-0), is second in the National League in ERA (1.28), and leads the NL in strikeouts (58). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Harvey is the only pitcher in the last 100 years with at least 125 strikeouts and 25 or fewer earned runs allowed in his first 17 career starts.

The Mets are taking it slow with Michael Fulmer as he returns from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Fulmer has not pitched again in a game since throwing two innings in an extended spring training game last Monday.

Game Preview

The Mets look to take the series tonight as they play their second game against the White Sox. Last night was definitely a Matt Harvey Day as Matt threw 9 innings allowing one hit and striking out 12 batters. Sadly, the bats were not able to help him out at all and the game went to extras where Mike Baxter knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. The Mets look to continue the good pitching and hope to find their bats tonight as they take on Jake Peavey behind Jermey Hefner.

Hefner is 0-3 on the season over 6 games, 5 starts, while pitching 29.0 innings with an ERA of 4.34. He has been on fire in his last two starts allowing 3 ER over 15 innings, and that number could have easily been lower. His two runs in his last start came in the 9th inning when he allowed the first two batters on in the inning and the bullpen imploded behind him. During those 15 innings, he struck out 12 batters. Hefner has never faced the White Sox but has faced two batters. Wise is 0-1 while Greene is 0-3.

The Mets will get a look at Jake Peavey today who is putting his career back together in Chicago. He was fantastic as a Padre, found himself with the White Sox via trade. His career in Chicago was thrown off a bit by injury at the start but over the last two seasons he is starting to look like shades of his former self. This year he is 3-1 over 5 starts with a 3.38 ERA. In his career, he is 5-2 over 10 games and 62.0 innings against the Mets with an ERA of 3.48. The Mets have the following numbers against Jake:

My name is Elliot and I’ve been writing the Game Preview posts at MMO since 2008. I am excited to be back sharing my thoughts with you. When I’m not watching the Mets, I’m a Physics Teacher in Newark, NJ and writing about the Mets at 213 Miles From Shea. LGM!

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